Hearse.



Patented June 27, i899.v

A. C. COX.

HEARSE.

(Applicatiun med Nov. 14, 189B.)

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES A 7TOHNEYS.

' trating the pivots of the body-supporting rockable on its pivots, so it can be adjusted UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER C. COX, OF PRAIRIE CITY, ILLINOIS.

HEARSE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N0. 627,907, dated June 27, 1899.

Application filed November 14,1898. Serial No. 696,401. lo model-l v To tZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ABNER C. COX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prairie City, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hearses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement-in hearses and similar Vehicles, such as ambulances for carrying human bodies, and has for an object to provide a tilting platform orv support for the body which can be adjusted up or down at both ends in order to preserve the body on a true level in ascending and descending grades; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed ont in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a hearse provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 isa detail viewillusplatform. Fig. 3 is a detail View illustrating the adjusting mechanism.

The hearse may in general respects be of any suitable design and finish and will present no different appearance when on a level from the ordinary hearse in common use.

The body-supporting platform A forms the bottom of the hearse and may be raised or lowered at both ends, it being extended longitudinally in the direction of length of the hearse and pivotally supported midway between its ends preferably by the pivot-studs B, resting in the sills C of the body of the hearse, so the platform may work inside such sills and so it will not interfere with the construction of the trap-door for use in adjusting the securing-pins to the sides of the casket in the usual way. It is preferred to locate the pivot-studs in center of the platform, 'as shown in Fig. l. By the described construction it will be understood that the platform is independently of the body of the hearse in order to secure a level position of the platform, whether the hearse be on a level or ascending or descending a grade. For this purpose I provide means for forcibly adjusting the platform on its pivot, and these consist, preferably, of a lifting-rod D, jointed atits lwer end to the forward end of the platform A and working through a slot in the front I end of the hearse, soit can be used by the driver or undertaker to raise or lower the forward end of the platform to the degree desired, which result may be effected without. stopping-the hearse. This lifting-bar is preferably jointed to the platform, and in order to lock the parts in the position to which they may be adjusted I form the bar with notches d, which engage with a'portion con the body of the hearse to secure the rod or bar D in any desired adjustment, a spring D being employed to press the rod or bar D into engagement with the portion e. This portion c ispi'eferablya part of a bail E, secured to the body of the hearse and serving as a guide for the rod or bar D.

The bar D extends upwardly in rear of the drivers seat F and it may be supplied with as many notches d as is necessary to secure a practically level position of the body-supporting platform A at all times.

My invention may also be embodied in arnbulances, in which case the adjustable platform may be arranged in pairs, one at each side, in the form of bunks on opposite sides of a central aisle, with pivots under center of each bunk. The adj listing-bars willbe placed inside the front end of ambulances, so the attendant can adjust the bunk to snit the needs of the patient. the same as in hearses with a separate bar for each bunk. f

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure. byLetters Patent, is

1. A vehicle substantially as described, having a body-supporting platform which is movable vertically at both ends, combined The bar itself will be with means for, operating and securing the said platform whereby it may be adjusted to and held in level position when the vehicle is IOO supported between its ends and rockable on said pivot, combined with operating means connected with the front end of said platform, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hearse, the combination with the body having the base-sills, ol the body-sup-l porting platform forming the bottom of the hearse and pivoted between its ends to the sills and. means for rocking the platform on said pivots, substantially as set forth.

4E. A hearse provided with a body portion having a drivers seat at its front end, a bodysupporting platform forming the body of the hearse and pivotally supported between its ends and an operating bar or rod connected with the forward end of the platform and extended thence upwardly adjacent to the drivers seat, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination ofthe vehicle-bod y, the body-supportin g platform pivoted between its front and rear ends, the notched operatingbar connected with the front end of said platform, the portion with which said notched bar engages andthe spring for pressing'the bar into such engagement, substantially as set forth.

0. The improved heal-se herein described comprising the body having the basesills,and provided at its front end with the drivers seat, the body-supporting platform pivoted between its front and rear ends to the sills, the notched operating-bar connected with the forward end of the platform and extending thence upwardly adjacent to the drivcrs seat, the bail forming a guide for said bar, and a means for engagement thereby, and a spring for pressing the bar into such engagement, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ABNER C. COX.

lVitnesses:

DELLE C. H. Cox, f 'LoRA A. BRYTE. 

